Trade Block: Four Targets for the Islanders to Pursue

The NHL Draft is two days away. The New York Islanders will select first overall, but everything’s a mystery after that. Islanders’ General Manager Mathieu Darche told reporters yesterday that he has an open mind for everything, from trading back into the top 10 to acquiring an established NHLer who will improve the Islanders.

The Islanders’ needs aren’t exactly a secret. They need a high-caliber winger who can put the puck in the net. They’re also looking to try and land James Hagens after they will likely select Matthew Schaefer with the first overall pick.

This time of year, rumors are constantly flying all over the place. Here, I’ll list the players that make sense for the Islanders to target, who are also confirmed to potentially be available:

#1. A Top Ten Draft Pick to Select James Hagens

This first entry comes as absolutely no surprise. In some reports, this is the Islanders’ top mission. In others, this is a complete backdrop. Despite the risks, this is the top target for the Islanders. Hagens possesses elite talent, has publicly made it clear he wants to be an Islander, and he’s close friends with Cole Eiserman. The duo played in the USNTDP together, and torched the competition.

Perhaps they could look to last night’s PWHL Draft and take a lesson from the New York Sirens. The Sirens held the first overall pick, but wanted two of the top prospects in the draft. With their first pick, they took Kristyna Kaltounkova, but passed on budding star Casey O’Brien.

Then, they traded top-pair and elite offensive defenseman Ella Shelton for the third overall pick, along with a fourth-round pick.

Obviously, it’s not a 1:1 comparison, but it sure is interesting what the Sirens pulled off. O’Brien and Kaltounkova both play center, while the Islanders are considering Schaefer and Hagens, a defenseman and a forward.

Some Sirens fans were overjoyed with landing two elite prospects, while others expressed displeasure at giving up the supremely talented Shelton. In just two days, the Islanders could do the same, if they opt to trade one of Noah Dobson or Alexander Romanov in a deal to land a top 10 draft pick to land Hagens.

#2: Jordan Kyrou

Whispers have only grown surrounding Jordan Kyrou’s potential availability in a trade. Kyrou, 27, would be a slam-dunk acquisition for the Islanders.

He’s scored 30+ goals in three straight seasons, including 36 this past year. Kyrou’s signed to an incredibly reasonable $8.15 million cap hit through 2031, six years from now. But why would St. Louis be looking to move him?

Frank Seravalli explained this morning, placing him at #2 on his trade board:

“Kyrou joins the board as a player just days away from his full ‘no-trade’ clause kicking in on July 1. He’s been a very productive player, averaging 35 goals and 71 points over the last three seasons. Plus, the calculus that rival teams have made is that GM Doug Armstrong will see rookie Jimmy Snuggerud as a player who can effectively soon replace Kyrou.”

It’s become a common theme for teams to give out long-term extensions with trade protections, then walk away before they kick in.

There have also been whispers that Noah Dobson heavily appeals to the Blues, and suddenly, we could have a blockbuster looming. I don’t know if it would be a one-for-one deal, as the Islanders would likely ask for some extra compensation, but there’s about as perfect of a trade partner for the Islanders in a hypothetical Dobson deal that they’ll find.

#3: JJ Peterka

The hottest name on the trade market is another potential fit for the Islanders. JJ Peterka and the Buffalo Sabres are headed for a divorce, and he’s the top-ranked player on Seravalli’s board.

Peterka scored 27 goals and 68 points across 77 games this season, and the 23-year-old is only improving. Buffalo’s reportedly set an incredibly high price for Peterka. Peterka’s an RFA, and he will command a high price on a long-term extension.

Again, if the Islanders decide it’s time to move on from Dobson, he would fit here as part of the deal. I don’t believe the Islanders would do that trade in a one-for-one swap, but that much remains to be seen.

Buffalo also owns the ninth overall pick, something to monitor if this trade becomes a true jaw-dropper.

#4: The Rights to Isaac Howard

Isaac Howard would be a perfect addition to the Islanders’ prospect pool, with the expectation that Howard will debut when his college season ends. He’s as close to a sure-thing as a prospect can be, with clear top-six scoring potential.

Howard won the Hobey Baker Award this past season, notching 26 goals and 52 points in 37 games. After winning the Hobey Baker, he and the Tampa Bay Lightning could not agree on a contract, and he told the franchise he would not sign with them.

Now, the Bolts will be forced into trading him. He would become an unrestricted free agent next summer, where Tampa could only recoup a second-round pick as compensation.

The Islanders could offer up the 42nd overall pick for Howard, along with a mid-round pick. That could, potentially, get the job done. If it doesn’t, New York could even trade Colorado’s 2026 first-round pick for Howard, and it might get the job done. It’s unknown what exactly Tampa’s looking for in return, but those picks could be it.

The Islanders would need to be sure that Howard would sign before making such a deal.